Machynlleth mayor Gareth Jones says town residents feel a "natural anxiety" as the search for missing schoolgirl April Jones enters its fifth day.

But he said there was also a mood of optimism and determination that the five-year-old schoolgirl would be returned to her family.

Asked to describe the mood in the town this morning, Mr Jones said: "It's a natural anxiety which, as I say, is natural - nobody would be human if that wasn't one of the emotions at the moment, an anxiety at not knowing how and where April is.

"But there is an overriding hope and positivity. We are still here to find her and bring her home safely to her family."

Difficult weather overnight, including gusty winds and heavy showers, was making the work of specialist police and mountain rescue search teams even more difficult.

Mr Jones added: "It's hampering the search, I'm sure, but police and volunteers are undeterred, they are not letting up one iota."

April has not been seen since she got in to a vehicle close to her home on the Bryn-y-Gog estate at around 7pm on Monday.

Mr Jones said town residents, many of whom are sporting pink ribbons following a campaign launched yesterday by April's family, were thinking of the schoolgirl's family.

"They need space for themselves and we are all giving them that. They have got the right support from the police liaison service but of course our thoughts are with them."